Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare, but deadly virus transmitted to humans by mosquitos. While there are currently less than 10 cases diagnosed per year, on average, the disease is spreading and is now found in more states and further north.
With so few cases each year, you may wonder what the fuss is about. But there are several reasons to worry at this point. First, the disease is deadly in approximately one third of the cases, and those who survive have a high risk of moderate to severe brain damage.
So far, the disease has been controlled by tight mosquito control in areas where the disease is found. If mosquito spraying stopped or became less effective, the disease would likely be much more prevalent.
Where Is EEE Found? Which States Are Affected?
Most cases of EEE are found in warm areas along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states. The transmitting mosquitos breed in warm swampy areas, with most cases found in Florida. Recently, however, cases have moved north with the disease being reported in the Great Lakes Region and other northern states.
To date, the EEE virus has been found in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
States where the virus is found often have a program of checking sentinel chickens for infection. Chickens are placed in areas with a large mosquito population and checked regularly for infection. An infected chicken is an early warning sign that the virus is found in the local mosquito population.
Ask your local county authorities whether your area has such a program and what the results are to date. Currently, the virus is found in small areas of the infected states but will likely spread each year.
Related: Mosquito-Repelling Weeds That you can Plant this Spring in your Backyard
Who Is at Risk for EEE Virus Infection?
Anyone living in an area where the virus is found can become infected with EEE virus. People who live or visit swampy areas, woodland habitats, and spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk of exposure to infected mosquitos.
EEE infections are mainly seen during the warmer months, from late spring through early fall. The winter cold usually kills off the mosquito population. However, in warmer, subtropical areas such as Florida and the Gulf States, infections are sometimes found in winter.
How Can I Prevent Catching EEE Virus?
The best way to prevent catching the virus is to avoid mosquito bites.
Not every mosquito will carry the virus, but every bite carries a risk of transmitted diseases including EEE. Wear mosquito repellant when you are in infected areas and control the mosquito population in your home and yard.
The EEE virus is not transmitted from person to person or from other animals to humans, although birds, horses, and other animals can also catch the disease from mosquito bites.
People over 50 and under 15 years of age are most susceptible to catching the virus. Healthy individuals may be able to fight off the virus or have a less severe form of the disease that is never diagnosed. The young and the older generation are more likely to have more severe symptoms and require hospitalization from the disease.
What Are the Symptoms of EEE Virus?
Infected patients usually fall ill within 4 to 10 days after an infected mosquito bite. While symptoms can be mild, severe cases can be deadly. Symptoms begin suddenly with a headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The virus progresses quickly into disorientation, seizures, and possibly a coma. These symptoms should be taken seriously and immediate medical attention sought. The patients who are treated early have the best chances to a positive outcome.
Treatment of the EEE Virus
Currently, there is no specific treatment for the EEE virus. Antibiotics and anti-viral drugs are not effective against the virus. Supportive care, including hospitalization, IV fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of other infections and complications is provided and does help, but no cure is known.
Tips to Avoid Mosquito Bites
There are many approved mosquito repellents on the market that are very effective against the pests. However, you do not have to resort to hazardous chemicals for mosquito protection. Natural mosquito repellents made from essential oils are just as effective in most cases, without the risks associated with chemical repellents. These essential oils are proven to repel mosquitos:
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Citronella
- Peppermint (you can find our own recipe here)
- Lemon
- Eucalyptus
- Basil
- Clove
- Thyme
- Lemongrass
- Geranium
- Lavender
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is very effective against mosquitos however, all of the oils listed above will repel mosquitos. Many recipes that use a combination of these essential oils are available online and have a delightful scent. Experiment to determine which ones work best for you.
Related: 40 Bizarre Home Remedies Our Grandparents Taught Us That Actually Work
Other Tips to Avoid Mosquito Exposure
Treating your yard with a mosquito zapper or by burning citronella candles when outside can help keep mosquitos away.
Other tips include making sure your window screens are in good repair and wearing long sleeves, long pants, and closed shoes when in mosquito infested areas.
Another good preventative is to make sure there is no standing water on your property where mosquitos can breed. Keep pools drained or chlorinated and inspect your yard regularly for places where water can accumulate. If you have pet bowls or birdbaths outside, empty them daily and refill with fresh water. Mosquitos only need a tiny amount of standing water to breed.
Implications for Preparedness
EEE virus is a serious disease that affects the brain and nervous system. At the moment, it is rare, but the disease is spreading, and you should assess the risk in your area. In addition to EEE, there are other mosquito borne viruses, so it is recommended that you take precautions to avoid exposure to mosquitos whenever possible.
In a SHTF scenario, mosquito control might not be available from your local authorities, and the disease could become more widespread quickly. It would be wise to include a mosquito control plan and mosquito repellents in your preparations.
You may also like:
Plants You Should Grow Around Your House To Repel Insects And Bugs (Including Termites)
This Bug Will Kill Most Americans During The Next Crisis (Video)
4 Ways to Keep Monsanto Out Of Your Backyard
I might add that planting the above will help to keep disease carrying rodents away and the deadly snakes that hunt such rodents!
In short not only will your yard look & smell good it will keep you healthy and happy. ?
Mosquito Bites: Tincture of Iodine 2% (the same iodine that use to be in your grandma medicine cabinet) put onto a mosquito bite will kill all bacteria and viruses at the site of the bite within ten to thirty seconds, making it impossible for any virus or bacteria to multiply and get started – such as in West Nile Fever, Dengue Fever, etc.
Really! Sounding the alarm over a disease that horses have been being vaccinated against for decades like it is some new threat. There is also WEE and VEE. They can affect humans too. Why not start a panic about them too?
I’d hardly say that this article is designed to cause a panic. Sounding an alarm is correct. Panic? No.
Equine vaccination is for horses not humans, There is no vaccine or medicine for it except what the Chinese are doing and that is not at all well known here. Dont dismiss what you dont know about, i think only panic here was to make a wrongful remark
Empowering people by providing them with relevant information about how to stay safe and healthy is not pressing a “panic” button.
Not all of us are as well informed about every issue as you are. So please, don’t be a hater. That doesn’t help anybody, and it adds nothing useful to the conversation
I was surprised to see here an encouragement to ask the government for help in fighting mosquitoes.
1. They spray with toxins that likely cause (also neurological) health and environmental problems.
2. They contemplate the use and already have used genetically engineered mosquitoes in the weird (common sense?!) attempt to eliminate mosquitoes in a district in S-America and what happened?-The mosquitoes did what the strange unthinking scientists and politicians/decision makers didn’t think they would do: they mixed with the unadulterated/wild populations AND to everybody’s surprise, made a supermosquito population that’s even more resistant to mosquito fighting chemicals.
Government is maybe good to control its population (and theyre far along with it as I can see with the increasing numbers of LED street lights, newly installed street cameras, 5G antennas, smartmeters, and now even, what seems to be huge loud speakers on some city highway ramps)–but does it provide thoughtful help? Maybe in other countries…
But, I appreciate the majority of this post, thank you!
Triple E is nothing to be taken lightly. I’ve just read the Wikipedia article on it and it’s downright scary. Vaccine is available for horses but not for us. There aren’t a lot of human cases per year but as of September 2019, a notable uptick in cases erupted in New England and Michigan, prompting some health departments to declare an outbreak. As of 15 October 2019, four people died in Michigan, three people died in Connecticut, and four people died in Massachusetts. The virus was also found in goats and horses. And that also begs the question if you can contract the disease from eating infected goat meat. As I say not a lot of cases per year but this is one nasty little virus. The virus can also infect other animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The virus is maintained in nature through a bird/mosquito cycle. Apparently some cases of triple E have been contracted through laboratory exposures or from exposure of the eyes, lungs, or skin wounds to brain or spinal cord matter from infected animals. Nothing to mess with. This article is not about creating a panic but to make us aware. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Pray that a true extended grid down situation NEVER happens because it will be beyond anything we can conceive of. The death toll would be beyond appalling. For all our preparation it’s something that can’t really be prepared for as it’s never happened to us. Not that we can remember anyways. A world-wide extended grid down situation would be absolute hell on earth. For those of you that already have that piece of property you may have a slim chance of surviving. But would you really want to? Everything would be gone and so many of our friends and neighbours would also be no more. The more that I think about it the more it gives me the chills. If there is a God I fervently hope it intervenes before we kill ourselves off.
Avoid Mosquito Exposure By exposing the ones how created it in the first place.
The “mosquito zapper” you refer to has been found to be useless against mosquitoes. They are not attracted to the UV light, so unless they happen to fly into the zapper by accident, you’re not going to get them. A lot of other beneficial insects are attracted to the UV lights, so it kills off the good insects while not doing what it was purchased for. Citronella candles do some good, but usually only for those directly downwind of the candle. The various essential oils do work, but you have to re-apply those fairly often, generally every 30 minutes to an hour to keep those effective where the DEET-based repellents work for much longer.
Looks like it’s in the bird migration paths. It’s probably carried by the birds.
It’s in the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways but not the Central or Pacific flyways. It’s probably caused by ice cream, because there is ice cream everywhere it appears. Science!
The VEE used to show up in Houston when I was a kid, it was called Sleeping Sickness, the perfect name to scare everybody to death. Then it went away.
Little known fact, in the 1950s the U.S. Government tried to control malaria by saturating the inside of each malaria victim’s house with DDT. This was stupid and vicious but most malaria victims were poor black or white rural Southerners who did not matter to much of anybody. Never heard of a followup study of the health of the victims. The less we matter to Government the more we need to worry.
I’ve never seen mosquitos where I live and this year there’s hundreds! I’ve gotten bit atleast 3 times. When I water they get startled and there’s sooo many. I keep thinking it’s like. Pestilence that’s sweeping over our country. I have chickens and my neighbors have horses, pigs and goats. I’m praying we will get to move to Texas soon, if God is willing.
I use garlic water and it works for me. You can buy minced garlic at Dollar Tree for $1.25 . One tablespoon per pint of water and shake well before applying it to all exposed skin areas.